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A Call to College

EIN 31-1333812 · Newark, OH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACTC'S MISSION IS TO ASSURE EVERY NEWARK CITY SCHOOLS STUDENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE AND COMPLETE EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. WORKING WITH THE NEWARK CITY SCHOOLS DISTRICT AND STUDENTS, ACTC PROMOTES EARLY AWARENESS FOR POST HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION; PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH PREPARING HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS FOR COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS; PROVIDES FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING FOR COLLEGE AND NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS; PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN COMPLETING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS AND SUBMITTING THE FAFSA (FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID); PLANNING TO PROVIDE RETENTION ASSISTANCE TO COLLEGE STUDENTS.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 78%
Employees
17
Volunteers
345
Highest pay
$128,706, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $400,021 spent. THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM SUPPORTS PROGRAMMING AT ALL LEVELS. IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026, 635 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE PROVIDED BY 57 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NEWARK CITY SCHOOLS TEACHER PARTNERS TO SUPPORT HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMMING. 90.8% OF THE FRESHMEN, JUNIORS AND SENIORS ATTENDING NEWARK HIGH SCHOOL AND C-TEC PARTICIPATED IN ONE OR MORE OF OUR SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ADVISING APPOINTMENTS; ACT TEST REGISTRATION, PREPARATION AND COMPLETION; EVENING COLLEGE-RELATED WORKSHOPS; AND SCHOLARSHIP GRANT APPLICATIONS.
  2. $331,896 spent. THE EARLY AWARENESS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES YOUNGER STUDENTS TO ASPIRE TO AND BE INFORMED ABOUT COLLEGE BY SPONSORING TARGETED ACTIVITIES FOR ALL 2ND, 4TH, 6TH AND 8TH GRADE STUDENTS IN THE NEWARK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. 100% OF STUDENTS LEARNING IN-PERSON PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026, 1,591 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE PROVIDED BY 242 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COLLEGE STUDENTS AND NEWARK CITY SCHOOLS TEACHER PARTNERS TO SUPPORT EARLY AWARENESS PROGRAMMING.
  3. $858,398 spent. THE ALUMNI AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FUNDS NEEDS BASED COLLEGE EXPENSES FOR GRADUATES OF NEWARK CITY SCHOOLS. IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026, 27.5 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE PROVIDED BY 34 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NEWARK CITY SCHOOLS TEACHER PARTNERS TO SUPPORT ALUMNI PROGRAMMING. IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026, NEWARK CITY SCHOOLS GRADUATES WERE AWARDED GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS, DISTRIBUTED AS FOLLOWS: 318 STUDENTS WERE AWARDED $581,382 IN LAST DOLLAR GRANTS; 20 STUDENTS WERE AWARDED $170,685 IN MARION D. WETZEL A CALL TO COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS; 4 STUDENTS WERE AWARDED $2,000 IN JANE MCCONNELL A CALL TO COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS; AND 1 STUDENT WAS AWARDED $2,000 IN LOUIS A. MITCHELL A CALL TO COLLEGE SCHOLAR ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP.A CALL TO COLLEGE [ACTC] CONTINUES ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE MARION WETZEL TRUST, PARK NATIONAL BANK TRUSTEE [TRUST] WHEREIN THE TRUST IS A TYPE III NON-FUNCTIONALLY INTEGRATED SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION, AS DESCRIBED IN REG. 1.509(A)-4(I), OF ACTC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COLLABORATION IS TO FURTHER THE SUPPORT OF THE DR. MARION D. WETZEL SCHOLARSHIP WHICH FUNDS NEEDS BASED COLLEGE EXPENSES FOR GRADUATES OF NEWARK [OHIO] HIGH SCHOOL. A CALL TO COLLEGE [ACTC] HAS IMPLEMENTED A COLLABORATION WITH THE NEWARK CAMPUS TO ADD A NEW RETENTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CONTINUING COLLEGE STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1993.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.